(07.26.21–Sin Escapes! –Romans 6: 23)
My friend, may I ask you a question? As much as we'd like to re-label sin with a more comfortable, more unassuming and socially acceptable label, does sin always remain sin?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
It's funny how some words and, perhaps, the very thing that they describe can disappear from our vocabulary before we even know they're gone. Take the word "accident" for example. When I was growing up it was a common word that we heard on the radio and TV every day. A girl dives into a swimming pool in 1966 and unfortunately hits the board on the way down and breaks her neck. That was an accident. She didn't mean to hit the board and the people who built the pub- lic pool in my hometown didn't plan it that way either. It was what we called an accident. We felt sympathy for the family and raised money for her medical expenses. Today a young man does the same thing in a local park pond and it becomes an “incident”; leaving all of us wondering not how awful it was but "who was at fault or liable" for the injury. Accident? For some reason the media is hesitant to use the word any more.
There’s another word we seldom use–sin. When was the last time you heard that except on Sunday morning?
Here's a story: Dr. Howard, an Australian preacher, preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the meeting, some- one remarked, “Dr. Howard, you shouldn't talk as openly as you do about man's guilt and corruption as it may offend someone. And if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject, they will more easily become sinners. Call it a “mistake” if you will, an “error in judgment,” but do not speak so plainly about sin." Dr. Howard took a small bottle down from a shelf and showing it to the visitor said, "You see that label? It says ‘strychnine’ -- and underneath in bold, red letters the word ‘poison.’ Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label! Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, 'Essence of Peppermint' don't you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with this matter of sin. The milder you make your label; the more dangerous you make the poison!” (David A. Sargent)
We dare not try to re-label sin, lest we harm ourselves, and others! The Bible warns of the tragic consequences of sin. Observe the warning label: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). As much as we'd like to re-label sin with a more comfortable, more unassuming and socially acceptable label, sin remains sin. You can call it a mistake or error but that doesn’t take away the fact that, like an accident, the fault lies with the one who take the dive into sin and not the circumstances surrounding the dive. Liability for sin is yours and mine, not someone else's. It may not be politically correct to say so, but as hard as we may try to re-label it, sin will never go away in favor of something less. It's the nature of sin.
We pray. Heavenly Father, forgive us when we try to re-label sin as something less, hurting ourselves, and others in the process. You have warned us of the tragic consequences of sin. As much as we'd like to re-label sin with a more comfortable, more unassuming and socially acceptable label, Your Word tells us that sin remains sin—always. Remind us by Your Spirit that the fault lies with us when we choose to sin and not the circumstances surrounding the sin. The liability ours, not someone else's. It may not be politically correct to say so, but as hard as we may try to re-label it, sin will never go away in favor of something less. It's the nature of sin. Shield us with Your mercy and grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.